CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Early Offense and Strong Pitching Earn Rocks First Win

Published on April 7, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Myrtle Beach, SC - The Wilmington Blue Rocks offense exploded in the first two innings, and the pitching staff took a shutout into the final frame as the Rocks beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Sunday, 7-2. The victory was Wilmington's first of the season and it helped the Blue Crew avoid a season-opening sweep at the hands of the Pelicans.

The offensive outburst began with two outs and nobody on in the opening frame, as the Rocks slugged four straight hits to put three runs across. Wilmington got aggressive at the plate, swinging early in the count against starter Jerad Eickhoff. Jorge Bonifacio sent the first pitch he saw toward the left-center gap and hustled his way into second for a double. That allowed the outfielder to score on Cheslor Cuthbert's subsequent first-pitch line-drive single to left. Cuthbert came home on Lane Adams' triple to the right-field corner, which also came on Eickhoff's first offering. Adams made it 3-0 when he scored on a wild pitch.

Wilmington kept up the barrage in the second. Parker Morin and Guelin Beltre opened the frame with soft singles. They moved to second and third on Justin Trapp's perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Jack Lopez scored Morin with an RBI single to center and Bonifacio plated a pair with his ensuing triple. Cuthbert capped the Wilmington scoring with sacrifice fly that made it 7-0 Blue Rocks.

Adams finished the day just a homer shy of the cycle, while Bonifacio went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Cuthbert added a pair of runs driven in.

It was plenty for a Wilmington pitching staff that came just three outs shy of its first shutout of the season.

Kyle Smith got the start and looked sharp over the first four frames. The 12-th ranked prospect in the Kansas City system had yielded just three base runners entering the home-fifth. Smith was just two outs away from being eligible for the win when he ran into some trouble. The Pelicans loaded the bases and Vance Wilson had to go to his bullpen.

The manager called on Antonio Cruz, who immediately fell behind the first batter he faced, 3-1. But the lefty reliever batted back and induced a comebacker to the mound that allowed him to cut down the lead runner at the plate. He then whiffed Trever Adams to end the inning with the seven-run lead still fully intact.

Cruz (1-0) kept the Pelicans at bay through the sixth and seventh innings as well. He gave way to Andrew Triggs who worked a scoreless eighth. The right-hander allowed a two-run homer in the ninth though to prospect catcher Kellin Deglan, that spoiled the shutout.

Wilmington moves on to Carolina where it begins a three-game series with the Mudcats on Monday at 7:15 p.m. Right-hander Angel Baez takes the mound for the Blue Crew against Carolina righty Will Roberts.

The Rocks return to the First State for their Home Opener on Friday, April 12 at 7:05 p.m. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit Bluerocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The relief corps had not enjoyed a strong start to 2013 entering Sunday. Through two games, Wilmington's bullpen surrendered eight runs (six earned) in nine innings of work. But the Rocks' relievers fared much better in the series-finale at Myrtle Beach. Antonio Cruz worked 2.2 scoreless frames and stranded all three runners he inherited on base to earn the 'pen its first win of the season. Overall, Wilmington relievers allowed just two scores in 4.2 innings pitched. The effort lowered the bullpen's collective ERA from 6.00 to 5.46.

The Rocks' rotation has been fantastic through three games. Kyle Zimmer set the tone in the opener by facing just 17 batters in five frames, striking out eight and walking none in a no-decision. John Lamb got stuck with the loss on Saturday, but the left-hander yielded just two runs in four innings pitched. On Sunday, Kyle Smith worked 4.1 scoreless frames before tiring two outs shy of being eligible for the win. In three games Steve Luebber's starting staff has posted a sterling 2.75 earned run average with 18 strikeouts and only five walks.

The Blue Rocks' struggles with men in scoring position finally came to a close on Sunday. Wilmington had stranded 19 men on base, and had gone a combined 1-for-22 with runners at second and/or third base, but the Rocks excelled in those situations in their first win of the season. Wilmington got three clutch hits in four chances with runners in scoring position and left only three men on base all afternoon. Meanwhile, the Blue Crew held Myrtle Beach hitless in six run-scoring opportunities.

Guelin Beltre has now hit safely in seven straight games with the Blue Rocks dating back to last season. The outfielder recorded knocks in each of the final five regular season games in 2012, had two hits on Opening Night and went 1-for-4 on Sunday. Beltre has batted .357 (10-for-28) during the streak.

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Carolina League Stories from April 7, 2013


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